South Antrim U-14 Fr Mullan finals
From Kevin Herron at Woodlands
St Pauls, Gort na Mona and O’Donnell’s were all successful in Sundays U-14 Fr Mullan finals at Woodlands as the South Antrim calendar at juvenile levels draw to a conclusion. Fortunately, weather conditions were far better than the previous Sunday as all six teams served up a quality morning of football.
Fr Mullan Cup final – St Pauls 4-13 St Brigids 1-06
St Paul’s footballers followed in the footsteps of their hurling counterparts at U-14 and completed a clean sweep of league and championship honours, alongside Féile – defeating St Brigid’s 4-13-1-06 in the A decider.
Lorcan Philiphs got his side off to a great start with a two early points – though Thomas Lloyd hit back for St Brigids.
Darren McGuinness and Jude Johnson both saw goal chances go a begging and approaching the midway point of the opening half it was level pegging as Lughaidh Mallon steered the ball between the posts.
Philiphs and Mallon traded further points in the aftermath before St Pauls opened up a two-point advantage once again; Philiphs the scorer of another two points – one from play and the other a converted free to make it 0-05-0-03.
St Paul’s number 20 was involved in the next score – but this time played the providers role in releasing Sé Burns who cooly lifted the ball over Sonny Doyle and into the net to claim the games opening goal.
Jude Johnston increased his sides lead with a fantastic point and the Shaws Road side claimed their second goal before the break as Lorcan Philiphs drilled the ball to the net to give his side a 2-06-0-03 lead.
Things went from bad to worse for St Brigids as Jude Johnston’s high shot dropped into the net and Darren McGuinness added a late-point to ensure that St Paul’s were on course for Fr Mullan success, with a 3-07-0-03 lead at the halfway point.
St Paul’s picked up where they left off before the break as Lorcan Philiphs helped himself to a further two points and in-between times Niall McKenna and Michael Flanagan split the posts.
Lughaidh Mallon hit back for St Brigids whose sole aim was to restore some pride in the second period and goalkeeper Sonny Doyle made a magnificent stop to deny Darren McGuinness his side’s fourth goal.
Philiph’s added his eighth point of the contest, though Charlie Mickleburgh hit back with a splendid point from play.
Just before the end of normal time a close range free from Thomas Lloyd caught the St Paul’s defence napping and St Brigid’s had a consolation goal.
However St Paul’s response was both ruthless and immediate as Lorcan Philiph’s bundled home his second goal of the afternoon after a scramble on the goal-line and added his ninth point in the aftermath.
Thomas Lloyd brought his individual tally to 1-02 with the final score of the contest but by that stage the game was well beyond doubt as St Paul’s lifted the Fr Mullan trophy at end of a dominant and composed display over the course of fifty minutes.
Fr Mullan Shield Final – Gort na Mona 3-16 St Johns 3-04
A dominant opening half from Gort na Mona set the Turf Lodge on their way to victory but St John’s rallied in the second period in an exciting Fr Mullan Shield final.
Tarlach Enright popped the ball over the bar to give his side the early and the opening goal almost fell to Aaron Donnelly whose shot cannoned off the post.
On eight minutes Gort did hit the net through midfielder Christopher Kelly with a high shot that dropped to the net.
Matthew McConnell then fisted the ball over the bar and Tarlach Enright helped himself to three further points; a magnificent curling effort from play and two converted frees – with Sean Brown pointing in-between to give their side a 1-06-0-00 lead.
It took St John’s almost twenty minutes to hit back through Enda McGurk whose delicate turn and finish left Lewis Dillon helpless in the Gort goal.
Gort na Mona responded though as McConnell added two further points, between a fifth from Tarlach Enright and just before the interval Christopher Kelly’s shot was fumbled by Johnnies keeper Seamus Douglas and Aaron Donnelly stabbed the loose ball home to give his side a 2-09-1-00 lead at the break.
Sean Brown increased his sides lead with the first point of the second-half before Douglas made an outstanding save to deny Aaron Donnelly his second goal.
St John’s had the chance to apply some pressure from the spot as referee Paul McDonnell spotted an infringement and signalled for a penalty, however Gort’s keeper Lewis Dillon denied Ronan Quinn from the spot and Fionn McCallin squeezed the ball over at the near post to at least secure a further score.
Substitute Jack Thompson got his name on the score sheet in response to McCallin’s point and Gort na Mona added a third goal through Sean Brown who shot low to the net past Seamus Douglas to make it 3-11-1-01.
Ronan Quinn and Christopher Kelly traded points in the aftermath and the Johnnies found the net for the second time as Fionn McCallin popped the ball to Odhran Quinn who rifled past Dillon.
Gort na Mona replied with points from Ryan Donnelly, Tarlach Enright and Jack Thompson – though St John’s restored parity on the goal front; Enda McGurk got a hand to Michael Darragh’s lofted free and powerfully shot to the net to make it 3-15-3-02.
Tarlach Enright brought his tally to 0-07 with his side’s final score of the game – Fionn McCallin and Criostoir Keenan added late points for the Corrigan men, though it was Gort na Mona who were worthy winners in the end to lift the Fr Mullan Shield.
Fr Mullan Plate Final – O’Donnell’s 4-04 St Brigids B 2-02
O’Donnell’s completed a league and Championship double with a 4-04-2-02 win over St Brigid’s B in the first of Sunday’s finals.
The men from the Whiterock Road men a terrific start and opened the scoring inside of sixty seconds as Liam McCaffrey switched the ball across to Fionnbar McKernan who shot to the net.
However, St Brigids B were back on terms on the 6th minute through a converted free from Pearse Lynch that dropped to the O’Donnell’s net.
O’Ds regained the lead approaching the midway point in the first-half as Michael-og Gaskin burst forward at pace and lifted the ball over advancing goalkeeper Luke Cullinan.
They then doubled their advantage within two minutes as Fionnbar McKernan’s free was cleared off the line and Liam McCaffrey swept his follow-up effort to the net.
McCaffrey added to his goal with the opening point of the game before the break, with a fine point from Rory O’Donoghue replying to make it 3-01-1-01 at the midway point in proceedings.
Fionnbar McKernan added successive frees to stretch his sides advantage after the break and a volleyed effort from Bara Corr found the net to give O’Ds a 4-03-1-01 advantage.
McCaffrey’s third free of the half would be his sides final score of the contest as St Brigids rallied late.
Pearse Lynch successfully steered the ball over the bar and substitute Thomas O’Sullivan shot to the net late-on. It was little more than scant consolation though as O’Donnell’s lifted the Fr Mullan plate to add to their division two league title this term.
